Clutch for axial traction



Sam '9 m fia, mwam I W. NLE

CLUTCH FOR AXIAL TRACTION mleaw rch 15, 1919 s sheets-5mm 1 Sept, 9 WZQQ W. NOBLE CLUTCH FOR AXIAL TRACTION mm: March 15. 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7a eys Sept. 9. 552% 1,508,026 W. NOBLE CLUTCH FOR AXIAL TRACTION Filed flax-ch 15, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept, a, 12s,

WARREN-NOBLE, OF PROVIDENCE. RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T TUBULAR WOVEN FABRIC COMPANY, 0F PAWTUCKET, ISLAND.

' ODE ISLAND, A GOEPOTION 0? MODE CLUTCH FOR AXIAL TRACTION.

Application filed March 15, 1919. Serial No. W290i).

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN NOBLE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clutches for Axial Traction, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates in and to clutching means, and is particularly concerned with a clutch adapted to connect two coaxial members of which one embraces the I other, and to transmit force applied to one of the members in an axial direction. Inas-.

much as the invention is applicable to many different and widely varied uses, but in all of its uses acts in essentially the same way,

namely, to transmit or resist force applied longitudinally of the coaxial coupled membars, I have entitled. it comprehensively as a clutch for axial traction. In the following specification 1 will explain the generic principles with reference to an illustrative few of the many possible uses to which it may be put.

In the drawings annexed forming a part of this specification, wherein typical embodi inents of the invention are shown applied to diverse uses,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a cross section on line 22 of Figure 1, of the fundamental elements of the invention, illustrating the principles thereof without limitation to any specific use. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section and Figure 4 a cross section on line H of Figure 3showing the invention as applied to use for coupling sections of hose or tubing together. Figure 5 is a longitudinal section showing the invention embodied in an anchoring connectionfor a cable, and Figure 6 1s a cross section of the same on line 6-6 of Figure 5. Figure 7 .is a side view in elevation, partly broken away of a construction of clutch ring embodying one of the elements of the, invention. Figure 8 isa section of the same ring taken on line 88 of Figure 7 F i ure 9 1s a sectional View showing the invention applied in a modified combination a modified form of the invention applied to for connecting a hose to a valve or pump outlet. Figure 10isasect1ona1 view showing I applied for the same purpose. Figure 12 is a i plan view of the ferrule forming part of the eombination as used in Figure 11. Figure 13 1s a sectional view enlarged of the ferrule shown in Figure 12, the section being taken on line 1313. Figure 1% shows the invention applied to hold a twisted pair of electrical conducting wires in an ordinary electrical fitting. Figure 15 shows the invention applied to connect a fire hose to a. pipe line. Figure 16 shows it ap lied to secure astopper in a bottle containing fluid under pressure and to provide a hermetic seal for the contents of the bottle; Figure 17 is a sectional viewof a modified form of clutch ring. Figure 18 is a side view of one of the component disks of the clutchfring shown in Figure 17.

The same reference characters indicate the some parts in all the figures.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 which illustrate the essential features of the invention without reference to any specific use, (t represents a bar, 5' represents a sleeve, ring, ferrule, or analogous member surrounding said bar, and 0 represents a clutch ring. The bar a and sleeve 6 may be taken as typical of any two members which may require to be connected, and of which one surrounds the other, whereby a substantially coaxial arrangement, exists'between the members, and eitherof which may be subjected to force tending to move it longitudinally, thatmils, e

axially with relation to the other. clutching or gripping member proper c is a ring which surrounds the bar a and cocupies a recess or chamber 05 in the sleeve. One of the bounding walls of the chamber is a tapered surface a the elements of which make comparatively acute angles with the surface of the rod a. The other wall f of the chamber is simply a confining wall and may be disposed in any manner efiective :to retain the binder ring a therein. Preferably, however, it is nearly perpendicular to the axis of the arts a and As here s own the ring cis circular is section, and is made of a material whichis flex- I ible, comressiblep resilient and has a sumt of the chamber (i. The

which the ring will slip cient coecient of friction. T find that vulcanized rubber compositions which are Suficiently soft and elastic to be stretched and twisted without being broken or permanently deformed, are suitable materials, but

that other materials and constructions may comes greater in proportion to the increase in intensity in the force applied. To securethis binding efi'ect the angle between the tapered and cylindrical faces of the sleeve must be more acute which is the angle at without binding upon one of the confining surfaces. The wall f of the chamber is preferably less acute and rod, respectively, than the critical ang e,

than the critical angle whereby the parts a! and b may be movedrelatively in the opposite direction freely and without being coupled.

. llt is not essential that the chber having the inclined clutching wall be formed in the outer member of the coaxial pair, since it may be formed in the inner member or rod as well. The construction last mentioned is illustrated in-conneot-ion with the sleeve 9, which has a. straight internal passage or bore, the rod or inner member then having a tapered surface it terminating at a more or less abrupt shoulder 2, thus forming the reversed equivalent of the chamber d, in which is seated a binding ring The mode of operation and the result of the construction last described are exactly the same as those of the first construction.

llt is not essential that the inner member should be a solid rod, for it may be a tube or a ring or nipple of any sort, and it need not be cylindrical or even circular in cross section, for it may be polygonal or irregular within limits determined by the capacity of thebinder ring to conform to its surface and to the com'plemental or different surface of the outer member.

In the action described, each section of the binder ring rolls about an annular axis. To permit this, the material of the ring, when it is made as a single integral piece, must be flexible enough to allow the nner circumference to become enlarged, and the outer circumference to become contracted. Vulcanized rubber compositions are known to the rod, referenceand coonly made which when molded quires the ring to be continuous and to have an, uninterrupted surface. It is not necessary either that the radial sections of the ring be completely circular; but it'is essential that their surfaces should not make extended contact with the gripping surfaces of the bar. These contacts should be tangent contacts of limited width, with the surfaces of the ringdiverging progressively and incrcasingl from the clutchin surfaces in order that t e ring may roll w en relative movement in the clutching direction occurs. Any shape of ring which permits substantially this character of rolling motion under the conditions described is within the scope of my invention.

T have previously stated that the binder may be made of other materials and struc tures than a. ring or strip of vulcanized rubher. One of the possible other constructions is a helix of wire or ribbon stock bent into ring form with the ends either oinedor left unconnected, Such. a ring-lormed helix having its ends connected is shown in Figures 7 and 8 anddesignated as a whole 0', while the wire forming it is designated l. The special form shown in these figures is further filled and coated with a vulcanized rubber composition in order that it may serve as a packing as well as a binder, and in order also to insulate the wire of the helix; but the binding or clutching function is performed as well by the bare helix as by the rubber filled and coated one.

Another form of the binder is shown in Figural? and consists of a ringshaped core or axis Z and'a number of disks m threaded on such core. These disks may be of rubber composition, or of a less compressible material such as leather or leather substitutes, or various metals. It may be observed that where the binder is made of metal in either of the alternative forms described. meet other material having a smaller coefiicient of friction than rubber. the angle between the clutching surfaces of the coaxial coupled members must be less than the greatest angle which will serve with a rubber binder.

i lhen the clutch binder in the form shown in Figure 17 is used, the individual disks rotate about the core in rolling into the clutching position: and in the other forms the action of the adj acentconnected sections of the continuous ring or band is essentially the same, such sections turning about an imaginar annular axis. The mtegral forms of bin er first described may be considered as made upof an infinite number of disks incontactwith one another without any inormation or flow. It has this peculiarity,

however, I that withdrawal is possible by.

turning one member in or on the other at'the same time that. a gentle pull with slow movement is exerted in the withdrawing direction. That is, the binder will free itself, or

fail to bind, when a; twisting motion is given the one part relatively to the other; and th s is a very desirable characteristic. because 1t enables the parts to be separated when desired, although they are so clutched that an undesired separa ion is impossible.

Many different uses may be served by the clutch having the characteristics gust described. Une use, shown in Figures 3 and 4, is that of connectingtwo sections of hose, or tubular members of any sort in ahneinentQ The hose sections a and a are inserted into the opposite ends of a coupling sleeve 0, each of such ends being equivalent in form and function to the sleeve Z and having tapered interior chambers in which are confined binding rings 0 and c like either of the rings 0 or c previously described, The rings not only clutch the tube ends in the coupling but they also pack them and prevent leakage of any ducted by the tubes.

Figure 5 shows the invention embodied in a cable connector and illustrates the manner in which the invention may be extended to transmit or withstand a force of any magnitude. The cable is designated 39 and is contained in a sleeve made long enough to contain a large number of individual clutch elements, each consistin of a binder 0 in a tapered cavity (i within the sleeve. The holding powers of the individual clutch elementsare combined to develop a total holding power which is approximately equal to the power of one element multiplied by the number of elements. The cone nector here shown is provided with an eye for connection to any sort of an anchorage, and is made in two parts 9' and-g each art bein' grooved to contain half of the bore whic receives the cable and half of each of the cavities containing the clutch rings. This divided construction enables the parts to be clamped tightly upon the threaded end of these parts.

fluid which may be con-.

bles. are commonly bound with a seizing,.

asindicated at r, to prevent untwisting. of the strands, and the presence of such a seizing makes impossible insertion of the cable endwise in a closely fitting sleeve. The parts over the complemental tapered outer surfaces of the parts 9 and g, and .is'retained by a nut t, screwed upon the reduced and U The opposite ends of the parts of the connector are securedtogether by a bolt u and nut 'v.

Figure 9 shows the invention applied to secure a" hose in a permanent manner to a fixed nozzle. The hose is designated 21 and the fixed nozzle 22. The latter has a threaded flange 23 on its end upon which is screwed a sleeve nut 24: having a lip 25 interlocked with a' flange 26 on a clutch sleeve 27. The latter embodies the principles of the sleeve I) originally described and is taperedto provide a contracted orifice fitting the hose and enclosinga conical annular space d in which the binding ring o"v is confined. A ferrule 28 isfittedwithin the clutch and provided with a flange 29 at one end beside the clutch ring, while its other end bears against the nozzle. 30 represents a packing washer between the .noz-

zle and hose, and 31 represents a thimble" provided to centralize thehose and confine the washer. When the sleeve nut 2% is moved outward to relieve the clutch ring, the hose end may be slipped through the ferrule 28 and over the thimble 31 and pressed against the washer 30. Then the hose is clutched initially by, pulling it outward enough to cause gripping by the bind er and it is made secure by screwing down the nut upon the nozzle until the ferrule 28 stops. further movement. serves as an abutment to hold the binder in its clutching condition, preventing any such movement as would release the hose. It

also makes a leakage-tight joint by abut-.

Thus the ferrule the hose. But the hose may be withdrawn when desired by first unscrewing the nut 24: enou h to relax the binder, and then giving the ose a twisting movement combined with a gentle pull. This combination is 75 v of the sleeve or coupling-are bound together by a tapered outer. sleeve 8 which is forced.

useful for any purpose where atube is to be connected with a discharge nozzle, and is especially valuableto connect a hose to a gasoline pump in automobile service stations.

retain an insulated wire 011 a conduit for electrical conductors in outlets or junction.

boxes used in electricwiring systems. Here 32 represents a fragment of the box, 33 the conductor and 34 either a conduit or an 1nsulated covering for the conductor. 35 1s the post or screw. through which the wire is connected in-circuit. The opening in the box through which the conductor or conduit passes is surrounded by a conical flange 36 within which is confined'a clutch binder 0 which coacts with the flange or lip 36 and the part 34 to secure the latter in the same manner as 5 already described. The binder is retained in place before the Wire or conduit'has been inserted, and also during insertion thereof from outside of the box, by a bead 37 which 1s connected to the binder by an annular web 38 and protrudes from the lip 36 and overlaps the edge thereof.

Wrile the lip 36 above described is shown in Figure 10 as integral wlth the wall of the box, an equivalent construction is shown in Figure 11 where aseparate ferrule 39 is placed in the hole. Such ferrule may be made by known methods from sheet metal and provided with a flange 40 on its inner end preventing it from being pulled out of the box, and with spring tongues 41 as shown in FigureslQ and 13, whichprevent it from accidentally falling or slipping into the box, while permitting it to be easily put inplace. These tongues are adapted to be bent down against the outer wall of the box. The ferrule has an inclined wall cooperating with the binder ring 0 to prevent with back the conduit andL causes the ring 0 to bind.

A. principle is involved in-the featurelast described which may be used with substantially all forms and applications of the clutch, and is of value as furnishing a means by which the clutched parts may be held in' their bound condition after the tension or stress applied in binding them has been re- Figure 10 shows the invention applied to aeoaoae members in the direction last indicated releases the binder; and inconditions of use where stress is not constantly exerted tending to maintain the binding effect, it may happen that the clutch will accidentally be released, with possibly undersirable results. The principle embodied in the secondary clutch ring 0 avoids all such results. lts

ellicacy depends on its being used ,Wllih a main or primary clutch ring having capacity for a certain amount of resilient compression, enough to allow that extent of relative axial movement of the connected members in causing the main clutch ring to bind which will cause the secondary clutch ring to bind under the pull exerted by the primary ring in attempting to return to its unstrained form. A like result maybe accomplished by tapering the binder ring chamber gradually in both opposite directions from its widest or deepest part, thus making the single binder etl'ective to clutch the members with relative axial movement in either direction caused by simple direct stress, or by forming two tapering grooveswith opposite inclinations of taper in the inner member, and providing binding rings in both grooves. Initial assembling of the members is permitted in either case by the fact that a telescoping movement compounded of rotation and a slow axial displacement under gentle stress is possible with this type of clutch, as already explained.

Figure 14 shows a mode or" securing the wires of an electric circuit in a common electrical fitting, such for example as an electric light socket. The wires are designated 43 and the socket 44, the entrance thereto for the wire being a tubular neck 45 lined with an insulating bushing 46. The clutch binder is shown at 0. The insulating bushings which are used with substantially all electrical fittings are finished at the ends in a manner which makes a rounded enlargement or the end of the bore. The surrounding walls thereby provide a tapering surface adapted to engage the flexible clutch ring and compress it against the wire in the manner previously described. The figure now under examination illustrates a special mode of applying the clutch ring to a twisted pair of wires, which consists in doubling the ring so that it makes two wraps around the wire and is thus caused to hug it closely and enter the depression between the twisted wires. lit is not essential that the ring be doubled for this use, for it may beappliedin a single wra ing ee before described, when don l edit acquires a more secure hold on the twisted wires and accomplishes the;

clutching function just as well.. This aplication or embodiment- .of the invention olds the 'wires in the fitting and prevents a;

pull applied to them' from being communicated to the binding screws by which they are electrically connected to the terminals of the fitting and so obviates danger of the connection belng broken. This use of the invention is applicable to a large number of electrical fixtures and connections without need of any changing in the fittings themselves.

Figure shows the mode of connecting a fire hose to a water plug of .any sort, such as the water pipe system of a factory, ofiice building, ship, or other construction having a pipe system for contending with fires, or

indeed the hydrants of an underground water supply system. 4:7 represents the hose, 48 the outlet nipple of the pipe system and 49 the controllin hand wheel of ashutofi' valve. The nipp eis enlarged or internally recessed to provide the chamber necessary to bind the ring and shaped with an abrupt shoulder 5 which enables the end of the hose to be readily inserted, andthe tapered clutching surfacebl ,to cause compression of the ring y rollin into a contracted space when a dlrectpul 1s exerted tending to withdraw the hose. As hose of this character is readily collapsible, due to the flexible character of its construction and the small thickness of its wall in comparison with its diameter; and as its collapse would make the; desired clutch efiect im ossible,

the inserted end is reinforced by an inserted v or tubing having considerable stilfness' resistant to collapse, such as the hose shown in Figure 9 which has a helical wirelining 53,or metallic tubes and pipes, or garden hose which is made of a relatively thick wall and is additionally stitfen'ed by a rubber lin-' ing'or a waterproofing im regnation, do not require to be reinforced y such means as the ferrule last described.

Figure 16 shows the use of the invention to secure a stopper 54 in a bottle neck 55, and in the manner of this use here illustrated, the form of the'invention which comrisesa groove with a tapered ormed in the inner member and a straight surface on the interior of the outer member;

alreadydiscussed in connection with Figurel,'is shown; The stopper may be a solid plug of an impervious material or a shell closed at either or both ends. It has an encircling? groove 56 1 containing the binder orclutch ring a, and the outerwall 57 at the side of the cove toward the mouthof. the 1 bottle is rupt, whereby the stopper may be inserted without impediment, while the wall or surfatel 58 is in-- clined'.v Thusthe; r' is enabled to secure the stopper by the action already described, I

against withdrawal by axially applied force,

and assuming that it is a complete ring made of somewhat compressible and im ervious material, such as rubber, it packs t e same as well as reventing escape of the contents J of the bott e. It maybe withdrawn at will, however, by first pushing it inward to relaxthe clutch ring, and then turning it and at the same time applyin axial direction outwarofi vbeen found to be an efiective closure for bottles or other vcontainers when holding carbonated beverages and other fluids exerting an elastic pressure reater than the external pressure; and it asbeen found that the stopper remains in place when the internal pressure is great enough to burst force gently in the t y. This stopper has i the container. Of course by especially constructing the bottle neck to provide the confinm groove for the ring, in the manner of the s eaves and nipples previously described, particularly that of the sleeve 6 shown in igure 1, the sto per may be a straight plug, with like e set; but the form shown is preferred because thereby any ordinary bottle may be equipped with a hermetically sealed stopper so locked it can not be blown out.

In all oi'the forms or modifications and modes of use here illustrated or embraced. within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, there are found a. pair of substantially coaxial members consisting of an inner memher and an outer member embracing it, to-,-

gether with a clutching binder or coupler. While in most cases the outer member will necessarily completely surround the inner member, yet the operation of the invention does not re uire that condition, and like results will fol ow where the outer member sufficiently embraces the inner member and sufliciently confines the clutch ring to eflec't comression of the latter between the members.

he members of the pair are relatively movable andthe commencement of such relative movement causes the binder or coupler to become efifective to stop such movement. One of the members, p'ermissibly either one, contains a groove or cavity in a zone transverse i to the line of relative movement, in which groove'or cavity the binder is confined, One

of the bounding walls of such groove or cavv ity is necessarily inclined both to the line of relative movement and to the adjacent wall or surface of the other member at an angle to the latter surface which is less, or at least no greater, than the critical angle of friction,

- whereby the binder is caused to roll toward the more contracted end of the confining chamber when relative movement takes placev in one direction; but the opposed wall of the recess or groove may be at any angle to the adjacent surface of the other member, prefcrably, however, making an angle which is greater than the critical angle of friction.

In the foregoing description and in. the following claims the terms binder-Q coupier, or ring, and expressions of like im- 7 port include each of the toms of such ring hereinbetore specifically described, and inelude also not only complete rings which lilfhat ll claim and'desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A binder or coupler for the purpose set in opposite directions, of clutch rings surrounding the tube and respectively engaging the gripping inclined surfaces, each of said clutch rings being of resilient compressible material formed to roll in contact with the surfaces between which it is located; the two clutch rings coacting to restrain the aforesaid members from'relative axial movement in either direction.

3. A. clutch for axial traction comprising inner and outer members arranged for relative movement in the axial direction, one of said members having oppositely inclined circumierential surfaces converging toward the contiguous surface of the other member and forming therewith included tapering chain-- bers or grooves, and flexible binder rings contained in said chambers constructed to roll on the bounding surfaces thereoi when axial relative movement takes place one'oi said rings being resiliently compressible.

lln testimony whereof ll havevaitined my signature.

Wanner Note 

